Cardinals hang tough with No. 4 Captains before falling in 10th

Mar 06, 2012

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – CUA led No. 4 Christopher Newport 3-1 going into the bottom of the ninth on Tuesday, but the Cardinals were unable to hold on as the Captains tied the game at three and then won it in the 10th. Robin Mowatt pitched seven innings of one-run ball for CUA, but was forced to settle for a no-decision.

CNU struck first when Ben Lenda singled home Luke Saunders in the second for a 1-0 Captains lead.

The score remained that way until the sixth when Tommy Little led things off for CUA with a walk and Tim Mierzwa followed with a single.

With one out, Mark Kalokitis lifted a fly ball to center that brought home Little to tie things at one. Marc Hanna was next and he delivered a run-scoring single to give the Cardinals their first lead of the afternoon.

CUA tacked on one more run in the eighth. Matt Grieb walked and moved up 90 feet following a wild pitch. Following a strikeout, Hanna delivered again, bringing home Grieb for a 3-1 Cardinals advantage.

Chris Nee came on in relief for CUA in the ninth, but he was unable to hold the lead, as CNU brought two runs across the plate to tie the score at three.

Steven Keener led the inning off with a single and soon after, he stole second. Lenda then drove him in with a double to make it a one-run affair.

Lenda eventually came around on a fielder's choice to tie the game, and after CUA went one-two-three in its half, the teams headed for extra innings.

The Captains went in front with a run in the tenth when Keener singled and moved up to second on an error. Lenda was next and he drove in Keener with a single of his own.

In the bottom of the frame, Little and Mierzwa led off with back-to-back singles. Grieb then bunted the runners over to second and third.

Kalokitis was next, but he went down swinging, and following a walk to Hanna, Brendan Breslin grounded out to short to end it.

Jacob Vaughan got the start on the hill for CNU and he went 5.2 innings, striking out three and allowing two runs during that time. Ryan Fleischmann went the final two innings and did not allow any runs or hits, while striking out four to earn the win.

Mowatt was terrific for CUA, scattering eight hits over seven innings, and allowing just one run. Thomas Travaglia threw one inning of scoreless ball, before turning it over to Nee and ultimately Kory Smigocki, who retired the final Captains batter.

On Wednesday, CUA continues its spring break trip when the Cardinals face Averett. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.